Failing Grades

A letter in response to David Denby’s article (November 19, 2012)

As Ravitch argues, reform strategies based on extensive reading and math tests, followed by rewards and punishments for teachers and schools based on those test scores, along with the encouragement of vast charter-school expansion, have not brought about significant improvements in student performance. Tellingly, no nation, state, or district that has gone from mediocre to world-class in the past twenty years—including Ontario, Canada; Massachusetts; Finland; Singapore; and even the Aspire charter schools—has followed this strategy. Successful schools and districts have supported the development of professional teamwork, and have completely revamped how they attract, train, and support teachers. Building the teaching profession around what is known about quality teaching, and allowing teachers the time and giving them the support to continually get better at what they do, has been the secret of educational success around the world.

Bill Honig

Chair, Instructional Quality Commission

California Department of Education

Mill Valley, Calif.

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